One of the nation’s top college football programs is in damage control over a sex scandal with one of its top players — with just one month to go until the season starts.
According to a report from the Associated Press, Javien Toviano, a rising sophomore cornerback for the LSU Tigers, gave himself up to police Sunday after getting hit with felony charges.
Per a report from The Times-Piscayne/The New Orleans Advocate, the 19-year-old Toviano, allegedly recorded him and his girlfriend having sex without her consent, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office said in their arrest warrant. The woman claimed that she located footage of the two on Toviano’s iPad captured on a camera built into a clock close to the bed.
This may not have been the first time Toviano has filmed sex without consent.
Toviano’s girlfriend told detectives that the LSU cornerback recorded their past sexual encounters and that she didn’t provide consent. She also claims that she’s previously told him that she didn’t want to be recorded on film having sex.
#LSU starting DB Javien Toviano was arrested for video voyeurism.
Toviano turned himself into the sheriffs office for one count of video Voyeurism. He was secretly recording sexual intercourse with a clock camera.
Toviano has been suspended from all team activities. pic.twitter.com/31cyaYj5xE
— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) July 21, 2024
Toviano, who signed with LSU as the No. 3 safety in the country by Rivals.com for the 2023 class, was immediately suspended by LSU head coach Brian Kelly.
“The student-athlete has been suspended from all team activities in accordance with departmental policies,” an LSU statement said. “We will not have further comment.”
According to media outlet OutKick, Toviano was expected to compete for a starting position for the Tigers.
Last season he played in 13 games and started three times late in the season – against Alabama, Florida and Wisconsin in the Reliaquest Bowl in Tampa. Toviano made 33 tackles last season through 302 snaps as he mainly played as a fifth defensive back. He was also valuable on special teams as he logged 94 plays on kickoff coverage, kickoff return, punt return and field goal block units.
Toviano made 11 tackles in LSU’s win over Florida with a fumble recovery and pass breakup.
LSU is projected as high as No. 14 in the country in some preseason polls, and is projected to finish in 5th place in a loaded Southeastern Conference (SEC) according to Sports Illustrated.